Lewisham wins two planning awards

The Deptford Project and PLACE/Ladywell both won last night at the London Planning awards, representing the borough of Lewisham.

The Deptford Project won for ‘Best Heritage Led Project’ and PLACE/Ladywell won ‘Best New Place to Live’.

Also known as ‘Deptford Rise’, The Deptford Project consists of a new public square, market space, and affordable housing. It involved the restoration of a Victorian carriage ramp, which was the oldest surviving railway structure in London, and 14 railway arches to be used as commercial space.

PLACE/Ladywell is a temporary housing scheme for registered homeless families. A method of construction was used to make building faster and cheaper as well as fully demountable, so it can be used in different locations throughout the borough over the years.

The Deptford Project will see affordable housing in a new eight-storey building with 121 apartments and seven commercial units, as well as another refurbished building providing town houses and restaurants in addition to housing.

The Deptford Project. Pic: Lewisham Council

The building was up and running in June 2016, will remain in Ladywell for up to four years before being relocated. It is considered the UK’s first ‘pop-up village’.

Other categories that Lewisham was shortlisted for include Best Conceptual Project, for Chapter Lewisham, Thurston Road, and Best Town Centre Project, in which The Deptford Project was nominated again.

Lewisham’s cabinet member for housing, Damien Egan, said: “Last night’s London Planning Awards success shows that when it comes to housing, Lewisham is now seen as a place that’s leading the way in London.

“PLACE/Ladywell, our development for homeless families, was up against some big private developments so it’s wonderful to get this recognition. The Deptford Project and PLACE/Ladywell are providing more homes for our residents, affordable work spaces and a huge amount of effort has gone into making them great places for the community to live and work with cutting edge design.”